MP addresses DARA protesters (From Barry And District News)

MP addresses DARA protesters

VALE of Glamorgan MP John Smith addressed a demonstration outside the Labour Party Conference Centre in Brighton by more than 200 workers from Dara St Athan, who face job losses if the transfer of work from Dara goes ahead.

John Smith said: "I believe that right is on our side and we can win the campaign by getting the political arguments across.

"These proposals are wrong in principle and wrong in practice. They will damage future military capability as the RAF will be unable to match the deep maintenance and repair work of DARA.

"If the government's decision is not reversed it will be bad news for the taxpayers who will have to pay for the extra cost of asking the military to do this work, bad for the South Wales economy in social costs, and it will seriously damage the South Wales aviation industry by dismantling this centre of excellence in aircraft repair."

Mr Smith added: "I never dreamed that I would find myself addressing a demonstration outside the Party Conference in protest of a decision made by a Labour Government.